Perspectives on children’s work and schooling: Evidence from a longitudinal study in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, India

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Consistent with the ILO’s 2015 World Report on Child Labour, which concludes that child labour leads to lower educational attainment and jobs that are not decent, the data from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana presented in this paper shows that of the large number of children who are balancing work and education, within and outside their homes, 61 per cent are less likely to complete secondary education as against those who are in full time education. The data also points to negative effects of three and more hours per day of domestic chores, with 50 per cent of them less likely to complete secondary education in comparison to children who did not undertake chores. On the other hand, the data shows that for the majority of children who combined unpaid work and schooling or were in full time education at 12 years, were found to be continuing education at 19 years of age.

The data and conclusions highlight important issues, re-affirming the negative effects of work, but it also important raises questions that need further more in-depth investigation into the situation and the impacts. Also, highlighted is the need to better integrate the voices of children in policy discussions and consideration.

This paper is part of the ILO Asia-Pacific Working Paper Series, which is intended to enhance the body of knowledge, stimulate discussion and encourage knowledge sharing and further research and analysis to better understand the work and education contexts of children and thereby for the promotion of decent work in Asia and the Pacific.